Typewriter ribbon and spool



Nov. 1, 1949. H. J. HART 2,486,473

TYPEWRITER RIBBC JN AND SPOOL Filed Feb. 26, 1946 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fi.1. g-

' INVENTOR; Henry J: Hari- Nov. 1, 1949. H. J. HART 2,486,473

TYPEWRITER RIBBON AND SPOOL Filed Feb. 26, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmvrox.

Henry J. Harf BY ll m. fla /m v /df a ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 1, 1949'TYPEWRITER RIBBON AND. SPOOL West Hartford, Conn., assign'or to RoyalTypewriter Company,

Henry J. Hart,

1 O FI Inc., New York,

Y., a corporation of New York Application February 26, 1946, Serial No.650,200 (Cl. 242-74) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to typewriter ribbons and spools, and moreparticularly to an arrangement for detachablyconnecting the end of atypewriter ribbon to a ribbon spool.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved typewriter ribbonand spool assembly in which the ribbon and the'spool are formed orprovided with cooperating connecting parts enabling the ribbon easily tobe attached to or detached from the spool.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of theclass referred to in which the ribbon and spool can be attached togetheror detached from each other with a minimum likelihood of soiling theoperators fingers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of the kindstated inwhich the connecting parts serve not only to attach the ribbonto the spool but also serve as a gauge to centralize the ribbon withrespect to the spool flanges.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved ribbonspool having an attaching part or means adapted to cooperate with atypewriter ribbon end in the manner indicated generally above. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedtypewriter ribbon formed or provided at its-end with an attaching loopadapted to cooperate with attaching means on a typewriter ribbon spoolof "the kind referred to above.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading'ofthe" following description, the appended claims, and the accompanyingdrawings, in which: 5

Figure 1 is a top plan'view of one form of typewriter ribbon and poolassembly embodying the invention; 1

Figure- 2 is a'bottom plan view of the spool showninFigurel; 'j 3' a tFigure 3 is aside elevation of the spool shown in Figures 1.and'2,theribbon not being shown inFigure3; t

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showingtheend portion of ar'bbon attached to the spo l; f Y

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the end portion of the ribbon formedwith attaching means in accordance with theinvention; I

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section on'the line 6-6 oi Figure 4,-and,showing only the ribbon end portion and an attaching post on the spool;

' being peened over as at Figure 8 is an elevation of another form ofspool embodying the invention;

Figure 9 is a, view similar to Figure 8, but showing additionally theend portion of a ribbon and an attaching 100p thereon connected to anattaching part on the spoolp fi Figure 10 is a fragmentary section onthe line I 0l0 of Figure 9 and showing only the ribbon end portion, anattaching loop thereon, and an anchoring post on the spool;

Figure 11 is a top plan view of still another form of spool embodyingthe invention; and

Figure 12 is an elevation of the spool shown in Figure 11.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 7,a ribbon R has its end anchored to and is wound upon a spool S;

The spool S comprises upper and lower flanges l and 2 connected inmutually spaced relationship by a hub structure comprising a centralsleeve 3 jecting through slits in the bottom flange 2, and 4', 5 and 6'.The sleeve 3 is adapted to fit over a shaft or spindle (not shown) whichmay either be stationary or may be drivenin time with movement of othertypewriter parts for turning the spool to wind the ribbon. Lugs I, bentdown from flange 2, are adapted to be engaged by driving teeth orsimilarmeans on or associated with the shaft or spindle (not shown) forcausing the spool to turn with the shaft or spindle. A spring urgedtrigger 8 is mounted on cars 9-9 on the bottom flange Zand is adapted tobe released when the ribbon has been unwound from the spool forautomatically reversing the ribbcn'spool driving mechanism (not shown).As thus far described,

the spool Sis generally similar to ribbon spools of wellknownconstruction used as standard equipment on the Royal typewriter andit'will be understood that the structure not, per se, constitute the:invention.

As previously stated, the invention relates more particularly to meansfor detachably connecting or anchoring the end of the ribbon to thespool.

Figure 7 isan elevation'of the spool shown in Figures 1 to, 4, asseention of the arrow 'l-in when lookingin thedirec- Figurez;

In theembodiment shown in Figures 1 to '7, an anchoring post In is madefast to the bottom iiangei as by extending one end post l0 through aslit II in the peening the post end as at l2.

end of the post to is secured to the spool, the post extending parallelto the'spool axis toward the top flange i Just above the post It, thetop flange flange 2 and then the bottom already referred to does portionof the Only this peened d Figure 4, the ribbon may opening it whichextends from the periphery of the flange toward the center of the spooland over the free or upper end of the post l0. Thus, the free end of thepost is exposed and unobstructed so as to be accessible from directlyoutside of or above the flange l.

The ribbon R has its end return folded and secured by a suitablefastening device, such as a rivet II, to form an attaching loop i asshown most clearly in Figures 5 and 6. In order to connect the ribbon tothe spool, the loop I5 is simply slip-fitted over the anchoring post IDas shown in then be wound on the spool in the usual manner, as shown inFigure 3. The fitting of the loop [5 over the post 3 is greatlyfacilitated by the clearance provided by the opening IS in the flange lwhich enables the loop ii to be moved directly from outside the flange Iright in line with the post Ill without its being necessary for theoperators fingers to be inserted between the flanges i and 2. Obviously,removal of the ribbon from the spool is just as easy.

If desired, the spool may be formed with'conventional spear heads Iii-4Bas shown in Figure '7 for anchoring the end of a conventional ribbon inthe usual way if a ribbon with attaching loop means is not available.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10, the structure of thespool S is similar to the structure described with reference to Figures1 to 7, with the exception that the anchoring post i is formed with an His formed with a reduced upper end portionproviding a shoulder i8intermediate the flanges l and 2.

The end of the ribbon R is provided with an attaching loop IQ ofrelatively firm material, such as sheet metal, which is attached to theribbon by suitable fastening means such as a rivet 20. If

desired, a piece 2| of clean, non-inked paper or fabric may be attachedtothe ribbon end as shown in Figure 10 for preventing soiling of theoperators fingers when the ribbon is being handled.

When the attaching loop is slipped over the reduced upper end of theanchoring post I! and moved down into abutting engagement with theshoulder IS, the ribbon will be positioned deflnitely in a predeterminedlocation with respect to the flanges l and 2. As shown in Figure 9, the

shoulder l8 and attaching loop I!) cooperate to position the ribbonmidway between the flanges I and 2, the opposite edges of the ribbonbeing spaced substantially equidistantly from the respectively adjacentspool flanges.

The modified form of spool S shown in Figures 11 and 12 is similar tothe spool S previously described, but difiers therefrom in that theanchoring post 22 is formed as a part integral with the bottom flange 2and is bent out of the plane of the flange to extend parallel to thespool axis.

In each of the representative embodiments of the invention disclosed inthe drawings, the anchoring post and the connecting arms are spacedradially from the center of the spool assembly, and arecircumferentially deployed so as together to constitute a ribbon-windingcore.

The constructions and arrangements shown embody the invention inpreferred forms, but it will be understood that changes may be madewithout departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a typewriter ribbon and spool assembly, a spool comprising aflange, a hub structure, an anchoring post fast at one of its ends withsaid flange and extending therefrom substantially parallel to the spoolaxis, the other end of said post being free, unobstructed, and exposed,and a shoulder on said post; a ribbon; and an anchoring loop ofrelatively firm material secured to an end of said ribbon and beingslip-fitted over said post and abutting said shoulder for locating saidribbon end in proper position with respect to said flange.

2. In a typewriter ribbon and spool assembly, a spool comprising twoflanges, a central hub structure connecting said flanges in mutuallyspaced relationship, an anchoring post fast with one only of saidflanges and extending toward the other of said flanges, a shoulder onsaid post; a ribbon; and an anchoring loop of relatively flrm materialsecured to an end of said ribbon and being slipfitted over said post andabutting said shoulder for positioning the ribbon end portion with itsopposite edges spaced from said flanges respectively.

3. In a typewriter ribbon spool, a flange; a central hub structure;means for mounting said spool on typewriter mechanism; an anchoring postfast at one of its ends with said flange and extending therefromsubstantially parallel to the spool axis, the other end of said postbeing free, unobstructed, and exposed to receive an attaching loop atthe end of a typewriter ribbon; and a shoulder on said post intermediatethe ends of said post and of larger diameter than said upper end of saidpost, said shoulder being adapted to cooperate with such an attachingloop for positioning the ribbon end relatively to said flange.

4. In a typewriter ribbon and spool assembly, a spool comprising twoflanges, a central hub structure connecting said flanges in mutuallyspaced relationship, an anchoring post fast at one of its ends with oneOnly of said flanges and extending toward the other of said flanges,said other of said flanges being formed to provide an opening extendingfrom the flange periphery inwardly toward the spool center and beyondsaid anchoring post to thereby leave the other end of said anchoringpost exposed, and a shoulder on said anchoring post; a ribbon; and anattaching loop of relatively flrm material secured to an end of saidribbon and slip-fitted over said post and abutting said shoulder forlocating the ribbon edges in relation to the spool flanges.

5. In a typewriter ribbon spool, two flanges, a central hub structureconnecting said flanges in mutually spaced relationship, an anchoringpost fast at one of its ends with one only of said flanges and extendingtoward the other of said flanges, said other of said flanges beingformed to provide an opening extending from the flange peripheryinwardly toward the spool center and beyond said anchoring post tothereby leave the other end of said anchoring post free, unobstructed,and exposed to receive an attaching loop of relatively firm materialsecured to an end of a typewriter ribbon, and a shoulder on saidanchoring post intermediate the ends of said post and being adapted tocooperate with such an attaching loop for positioning the ribbon endrelatively to the spool flanges.

6. In a typewriter ribbon spool, two flanges, a central hub structureconnecting said flanges in mutually spaced relationship and including aplurality of circumferentially spaced connecting arms respectivelyformed integrally with one of said flanges and extending substantiallyperpendicularly thereto and having their ends connected to the other ofsaid flanges, an anchoring post formed integrally at one end with one ofsaid flanges and extending toward the other of said flanges, the latterflange being provided with an opening extending from its peripheryinwardly toward the spool center and over said anchoring post to therebyleave the other end of said anchoring post free, unobstructed, andexposed to receive an attaching loop at the end of a typewriter ribbon.

7. In a typewriter ribbon spool, two sheet metal flanges, a central hubstructure connecting said flanges in mutually spaced relationship andincluding a plurality of circumferentially spaced connecting armsrespectively formed integrally with one of said flanges and bent out ofthe plane thereof to extend substantially perpendicularly thereto andhaving their ends connected to the other of said flanges, an anchoringpost formed integrally at one end with one of said flanges and-bent outof the plane thereof to extend toward the other of said flanges, thelatter flange being provided with an opening extending from itsperiphery inwardly toward the spool center and over said anchoring postto thereby leave the other end 01' said anchoring post free,unobstructed, and exposed to receive an attaching a e-rs loop at the endof a typewriter ribbon, said anchoring post and said connecting armsbeing spaced radially from the center of said spool and beingcircumferentially deployed so as together to constitute a ribbon windingcore, said two flanges and said winding core, including said anchoringpost, being formed out of only two pieces of sheet metal.

, HENRY J. HART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

